---
name: apps
description: Use when you need to work with apps on an Android emulator/device via stream-droid — list installed packages, see the current foreground app, or launch an app (e.g. your Expo / React Native / Flutter / native Android build under test) by package name before driving it.
license: MIT
compatibility: Requires `adb` and a running device + stream-droid server; the helper runs on node or bun ≥ 18.
allowed-tools:
  - Bash(drive *)
  - Bash(stream-droid-server)
  - Bash(stream-droid-server *)
metadata:
  version: '0.5.0'
---

# apps

## Overview

Work with apps on a running Android device through stream-droid: list installed
packages, see what's in the foreground, and launch an app by package name. Then
drive it with the **`/stream-droid:drive`** skill.

## When to use

- You need to open a specific app before interacting with it.
- You want to find an app's package name, or check which app is in front.

## Prerequisites

A device and a server. If one isn't up yet, start it (and stop it when done — it
runs in the background):

```bash
stream-droid-server          # start (headless)
stream-droid-server --stop   # stop when done
# from a clone: node skills/drive/scripts/ensure-server.mjs [--stop]
```

## Commands

App control is part of the shared **`drive`** helper (on your PATH once the plugin
is enabled):

```bash
drive apps                       # list installed packages + the foreground app
drive apps settings              # filter packages by substring
drive launch com.android.settings  # launch an app by package name
# from a clone (not installed as a plugin): node skills/drive/scripts/drive.mjs apps
```

After `launch`, switch to **`/stream-droid:drive`** and `shot` / `ui` to confirm
the app opened, then interact.

## Common mistakes

- **Guessing the package name.** Run `apps <grep>` to find the real
  `com.example.app` id before `launch`.
- **Assuming it opened.** Screenshot (`drive` → `shot`) after `launch` — a bad
  package name silently does nothing.

## Reference

| File | Covers |
|---|---|
| [references/apps.md](references/apps.md) | listing packages, the foreground app, launching by package |